§ MR. LYELL (Orkney and Shetland)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether his attention has been called to the present very defective arrangements for landing and embarking the mails at South Ronaldshay, in Orkney, and the risk incurred of losing the mail bags and large parcel post baskets owing to the transfer from the steamer taking place on the open sea to a small boat, which has afterwards to land the mails at a point two miles from the post office at St. Margaret's Hope; and whether the Steamship Company is not bound to land the mails at St. Margaret's Hope; and, if not, will he provide in the next contract that the steamer shall call at that port on its way to and from the mainland of Scotland?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES,) Cambridge UniversityThe Orkney mail steamer is required by the contract to call at Hoxa Point to put off the mails for South Ronaldshay, which are taken ashore by a boat in waiting, and then by road to the post office at St. Margaret's Hope. I understand that this arrangement is a safe one, and in the circumstances convenient, and that it has been regularly carried out for years without accident. Under present conditions, the steamer could not enter the bay at St. Margaret's Hope without running the risk of serious delay. The existing contract for this service has yet nearly three years to run, but when the time arrives for revising it the question of providing for a call of the steamer at St. Margaret's Hope shall be considered.